Expectations are high among the two MDC formations in the Government of National unity as well as other democratic forces in the country that the new supreme law will bring the service chiefs to order.
On the conduct of the service chiefs, the new constitution states that “neither the security services nor any of their members may, in the exercise of their functions— act in a partisan manner”
The constitution makes it illegal for them to “further the interests of any political party or cause, prejudice the lawful interests of any political party or cause or violate the fundamental rights and freedoms of any person”.
The new constitution further states that “members of the security services must not be active members or office-bearers of any political party or organisation”. Analysts are however of the view that making the service chiefs adhere to the constitutional guidelines trying to teach old dogs new tricks.
The analysts said that Zanu (PF’s) over-reliance on the service chiefs to stay in power will result in reluctance to make sure the constitutional provision governing their behaviour is fully implemented.
The Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, Gabriel Shumba, said: “Service chiefs sing for their supper from their master. Unless that master changes the free rein that he gave them, the Constitution will remain another piece of paper which can be flushed down the toilet, as some of our politicians once said.
“Politicians don’t behave well because there is a good Constitution in the land. They behave well because either they respect the fundamentals of the Constitution, or because those especially in civil society watch over and bring them to account,” said Shumba.
Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said it was highly unlikely that the security chiefs would feel bound by the new constitution.
“The problem does not lie in the legal domain. It lies in the domain of human behaviour. I have my doubts that a mere piece of paper can change the way the service chiefs operate. “So the problem here is not in terms of the legal framework but the behaviour of certain individuals who choose to respect the constitution or not to because if you look at it, there is nothing fundamentally new in the new constitution regarding the conduct of the security chiefs,” said Masunungure.
Another analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya, said: “In an environment where a constitution is adopted, the assumption is that all institutions of government must follow the drum beat of the constitution.
“But I think that for this generation of security chiefs, it is impossible for them to understand transformation. We cannot expect a miracle from these guys anytime soon.”
Post published in: Analysis